Lowell Everett Williamson

On March 1, 2023, Lowell Everett Williamson, beloved husband and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed into the loving arms of Jesus at the age of 94.

Lowell was born February 8, 1929, in Japan to Everett & Corinth Williamson. He attended Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, 1947-1951, served in Japan and Taiwan 1951-1954, returning to Kentucky to graduate from Asbury University in 1955, moving then to Oregon to Attend Western Evangelical Seminary. While at Asbury he met his wife Naomi of Clay Center, Kansas, and they were married on a hot summer day in Kansas, August 21, 1956.

During their first year of marriage, Lowell completed his second year of the Master of Divinity degree at Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Upon Lowell’s graduation in 1958, they began their career as missionaries in Taiwan, serving there for 49 years with One Mission Society and raised two children, Rodney and Renae.

Lowell had a life rich in missions, his love for the Chinese people kept him passionate about seeing them trained up with Biblical education, and he did that as a professor and administrator at the Central Taiwan Theological Seminary until his “first” retirement in 1993. He took a pastorate in Portland, Oregon until 1997. Moving then to Greenwood, Indiana, making it home base for the next 13 years, Lowell & Naomi continued their ministry with OMS, serving as regional director for the Asia Pacific region, and living in Taiwan for several years during that period. In 2011 they moved to Wilmore, KY where Lowell continued to serve on multiple mission committees, was a mentor, and a daily, avid prayer warrior.

Lowell loved crossword puzzles, playing tennis, Rook, 42, Scrabble, reading, and of course eating whatever his beloved wife cooked. He laughed easily and his family loved watching him laugh– no sound but happy tears running down his cheeks. Family vacations were a priority and the beach was most preferred. He will be remembered for his gentle spirit, wisdom, and his commitment to pray for family and others.

His life as a missionary was not without challenges, but his faith in God’s presence and provision was unwavering. Though much of their missionary life was in Taiwan, Lowell & Naomi spent many months in ministry in the British Isles, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, China, and Oregon.

Lowell was preceded in death by his parents Everett & Corinth Williamson, his sister Lois Aebersold, and his wife Naomi Williamson. He is survived by his son Rodney (Beth) Williamson and daughter Renae (Ken) Thompson, six grandchildren, Josh (Jessica) Williamson, Matthew Williamson, Tyler, Stuart, and Jessie Thompson, 5 great-grandchildren, Hosanna, Judah, Evangeline, Shepherd and Mercy Williamson, and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to One Mission Society, PO Box A, Greenwood, IN, 46142 - designated for #303780 Central Taiwan Theological Seminary.

Betts & West is honored to serve the Williamson family in their time of need. An online guestbook is available at www.BettsAndWestFuneralHome.com